Contributors

Monday, December 31, 2012

Over 30 years ago, circa 1980, I was friends with a guy named Len. We were in seventh grade. Len introduced me to a comic book series called "X-Men", and its most recent issues, 141 and 142. These happened to be (imho) two of the best superhero comics ever made. It was a magical time. Thanks to Len, I became hooked on comics, and would remain (with one short break) hooked for life.

Jump to 2012 (the far-flung future!), and though our lives have long since taken different paths, Len and I are now Facebook friends. Today he sent me a photo of his dad reading "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song"...

Things have come full-cirle. The circle can and will be unbroken. Thanks, Len, for sharing your comics with me back in the day, and for sharing my comics with your father today.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Michael Taube wrote a very thoughtful, intelligent assessment of our book in the Washington (D.C.) Times. It's perhaps my favorite piece written on the book to date. It was a nice holiday gift, and you can read it HERE if you're so inclined. Below is a screen shot of the start of the review. Thank you, Mr. Taube, and happy holidays to you all!

Our book was ranked #3, just behind "Building Stories" and "The Graphic Canon."

I'm doubly excited because I was a contributor to Russ Kick's exhaustive "Graphic Canon Vol. 2", which got the #1 spot on Brain Pickings' list. The series is a collection of literary adaptations, and the bulk of Vol. 2 comes mainly from the prolific 19th century. I drew a 3-page adaptation of Lord Byron's "She Walks in Beauty," drawn while also working on "The Carter Family," but in a completely different style...

Saturday, December 15, 2012

On this day in 1891 Alvin Pleasant Carter was born. A. P. Carter was one of the most influential music makers of the 20th century. He left a mark as large and pervasive as Lennon and McCartney, Hank Williams Sr. and Bob Dylan.

Perhaps even larger than those hallowed names, because A.P. developed deeply to the construction of popular song making. He helped set the concept of shaping a song to the constraints of a record's playing time. He also had a genius for condensing long ballads into powerful three-minute capsules--the very thing that helped country music become widespread.

Though his life--and those of his family and friends--was still very much rooted in the ways of the 19th century, A.P. cannily used emerging technology as a guide to his inner passion. His fearless blend of past, present and future preserved the old songs he encountered in his rambles and made them new for millions of listeners, to this very day.

A.P. needed the partnership of Sara and Maybelle to express his musical vision, and to make it popular. But at the very heart of the Carter Family were the songs--and A.P.'s loving stewardship of them.

Celebrate this day by listening to some Carter Family music. Click HERE to peruse the many videos of Carter Family music currently on YouTube.

Monday, November 26, 2012

The talented McIntyre Sisters met up in NYC in October (shortly before Hurricane Sandy struck), Sarah coming from London, and Mary coming from Seattle. Among the many things they did was read "The Carter Family" on New York's public transit.

I appropriated this most excellent photo from Sarah's highly entertaining LiveJournal blog...

Send me a photo of yourself reading the book & maybe you'll see it posted on this blog. davidlasky (at) yahoo (dot-com).

Friday, November 23, 2012

I've been meaning to write about our signings at the Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle, and Village Books in Bellingham, but real life has gotten in the way.

Janice at Fantagraphics wrote a really nice post about our Seattle signing for their FLOG, so I'm going to share the link...

And some photos from the event:

Kelly Froh gossips with Mike and Janice.

Frank Young, David Lasky, Noah Van Sciver.

Original art was displayed on the store's gallery wall!

Dennis Driscoll played a selection of Carter Family songs and his own songs (ending with a rap!) to a star-studded audience.

Today was (I think) the last day to see the original art displayed at the Fantagraphics Bookstore. The book is still available there and at many other bookstores. What a nice holiday gift it would make! :)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Original art from "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song" is currently on display at the Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle, WA. The exhibition, sharing the gallery wall with art from Noah Van Sciver's "Young Lincoln" graphic novel, continues through Nov. 22.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

On October 25, Frank and I gave a reading and signed copies of our book at the world's greatest little store, Reading Frenzy, in Portland, Oregon.

(photo by Corin See)

We had a great turn-out, Reading Frenzy sold all its copies, and I even sold the five I'd brought along with me. Thank you, Portland Comics Scene for representing! It was great to see old friends, and meet some new old friends.

During the Q&A, someone asked how long the project took. We explained that it all began in 2002, when our friend Ilse was playing recorded music to her baby, in-utero. She played a CD of hillbilly music, and suggested to me that some of those old hillbilly musicians might have some good stories. That got the ball rolling toward me asking Frank if he knew anything about The Carter Family. I was able to point to the back of the room and tell everyone that Ilse's baby is now a ten year-old boy...

(Thank you, Gary and Arlo, for coming to see us!)

It was especially nice to have Beth Harrington present. We showed a clip from her Carter Family documentary-in-progress, "The Winding Stream." She was kind enough to sing Carter Family songs, a capella, during our reading of the Bristol Sessions chapter. She's been a wonderful supporter of our book, and we can't wait to see her film!!

(Beth and husband Andy)

Thank you, Chloe and the staff of Reading Frenzy for fantastic event!!!
All of my photos from the reading are posted here.

Starting today, we invite you, the reader, to send us a photo of yourself reading "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song."

Filmmaker Ron Austin read his copy while on vacation, in an easy chair next to a fire...

Thank you, Ron, for allowing us to re-post your photo! This is also a good moment to point out that Ron is at work (with Louise Amandes) on a documentary about cartoonists in the Pacific Northwest that includes footage of me (David Lasky) at work on a page from the Carter Family graphic novel! It's called "Bezango, WA." Learn more, and possibly support completion of the film, at its Kickstarter page...

(At the $90 level, the thank you gift is a Carter Family giclee print by yours truly.)

Frank and I used to work for Fantagraphics (at different times, and in different jobs). They had us sign at their store recently (photos coming soon), and posted a very sweet mention on their blog (thank you, Janice!)...

Monday, October 29, 2012

Back in late August, Leeann and I were excited to journey down to Portland and meet two of Johnny Cash's daughters, Tara and Rosanne (and show them an advance copy of the book, which they kindly posed with)...

I complimented Rosanne on her heartfelt and gorgeous-sounding album, "The List," which is a selection of songs from the list of 100 essential Country songs that her father wrote for her when she was a teenager.

The occasion was a reception for Kickstarter backers of Beth Harrington's Carter Family documentary "The Winding Stream." Rosanne spoke passionately about the Carter Family and about the importance of supporting what looks to be the definitive documentary about the Carter and Cash Families, featuring interviews with Johnny Cash, Rita Forrester, Janette Carter, Joe Carter, Mike Seger, and countless other people who figure strongly in American music. The movie is in post-production and Beth is looking for supporters to help complete this 10+ year labor of love. Go to the Winding Stream website for details!

(Here is Beth, excited to see the book for the first time, with Leeann & me.)

If you live in Portland, OR, you might check out The Projects this weekend (sadly, I can't be there). But save some energy for Thursday, Oct. 25, when Frank and I will be reading and signing our book at (one of my favorite stores in the world) Reading Frenzy!

The following day, Friday, Oct. 26, we'll be signing at one of the NW's great bookstores: Village Books, in Bellingham, WA!

Our NW Book Tour ends with a bang at the Fantagraphics Bookstore in Seattle, Nov. 2 -- just before the spectacular Short Run small press show (where I will have a table)! Frank and I will both be signing copies at Fantagraphics, along with cartoonist Noah Van Sciver, and the Fantagraphics Bookstore Gallery will be displaying a selection of Carter Family (and Noah Van Sciver) original art. (And I am told there will be music by Dennis Driscoll!)

Monday, October 15, 2012

Frank and I continue to be excited by reviews and mentions of "Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song"...

The A.V. Club. (scroll down a little).(Another nice thing on this page: news that Dick Moore's "Gasoline Alley" comics from the 1960's are being reprinted. Frank King's "Gasoline Alley" of the 1930's was a huge visual influence on Frank's coloring and my art in the book. Dick Moores was King's assistant who took over the strip in 1960, and steered it in interesting directions, while staying true to the original tone of the strip.)

It was a pleasure to be interviewed by my old friend Tom Spurgeon, who happens to put together the coolest comics news site on the Internet, Comics Reporter. He asked Frank and I about certain pages in the book, as way of exploring wider issues, and our working process. Read the interview here...

Friday, October 12, 2012

If you subscribe to TIME Magazine, or pick it up at the newsstand, or maybe have a doctor or dentist appointment coming up... check out the books page, and read about the Carter Family graphic novel...

I know, right? Pretty awesome! Actually, it's really really awesome.

Thank you, TIME and Douglas Wolk!

I also want to point out to all reviewers that Frank Young did all the colors in the book, and deserves mention when you talk about the art. This wasn't just a "this guy wrote and that guy drew it" kind of thing, it's a truly collaborative project.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

On Monday, October 8, at Seattle's Richard Hugo House, Frank Young and I officially launched "The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song" graphic novel. I don't know the exact count, but the house was packed, so I'd guess between 70 and 100 people attended. Thanks, all of you who were able to come!

We watched a few clips from Beth Harrington's upcoming labor-of-love documentary: "The Winding Stream." Beth filmed interviews with Johnny Cash, Janette and Joe Carter, Roseanne Cash, and other key figures in American music. (By the way, you can help support this film as it works its way through post-production.)

Thanks to some generous friends, there was an overwhelmingly great dessert buffet which attendees partook of during intermission. Some shout outs: Thanks, Leeann, for baking 12 dozen mini-muffins, thanks Noel, for baking two amazing cakes, and thanks Amanda and the Tall Grass Bakery, for a plethora of cookies.

To end the show, Frank and I and a few friends did a reading from the book, accompanied by Cliff and Laurel for the musical parts! (We read "The Storms Are on the Ocean" - a chapter dedicated to the memory of Dylan Williams. The performance was dedicated to Dale Yarger, another friend we lost to cancer during production of the book.) I made a few goofs, but the audience was kind. Hey, I'm a cartoonist not a dramatist. Thanks so much to our readers: Kelly Froh, Elissa Washuta, Stacey Levine, and Mark Campos (who wins my best-dressed award)!

And then of course, we signed some books.

All in all, it was an old-time blowout party and a success. Thank you Brian McGuigan, Michael Hayes, and everyone else at Richard Hugo House! Thank you, Elliott Bay Book Company! Thank you Abrams! And thank you Carter Family, for making the music all those years ago...

Ron Austin, who is making a documentary about cartoonists in the NW, did some filming and took a few really nice photos:

For anyone who doesn't know, Sarah, an American transplanted to London, is one of the world's great childrens book illustrators. I'm always so thrilled to know her. She is currently at work on her best illustrations to date...

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

I think I first heard "Single Girl, Married Girl" on Harry Smith's landmark Anthology of American Folk Music. I'd never heard a song like it, or a voice like Sara Carter's. It planted the seeds of my interest in the Carter Family, and in my collaboration with Frank Young on the graphic novel. So the page in which Sara and Maybelle record the song was very important to me. I think of it as the cornerstone of the book.

Originally I had a vision of the moment as Sara and Maybelle performing in empty space, with no panel borders, as an expression of the haunting quality of the song...

The sequence went on for several panels and covered a good bit of the song. When Frank and I learned that the Carter Family's lyrics were largely not in the public domain, we had to change plans! Frank came up with the large single panel you see at the bottom of the page:

It didn't feel quite right to me, for such a momentous moment. I tried it as a closeup:

This wasn't working for me either. I wanted a 1930's comic strip look, but this panel felt more like a 1960's DC comic book. I stopped right in the middle of inking and decided I had to pull the view back. But I liked the idea of the words being words and word balloons at the same time, and I kept that concept...

I was very happy with this result! But it took a little longer than most of the other pages in the book.

One side note: Quilts were hung on the walls of the makeshift studio to muffle outside sounds. All the quilts I drew were researched for accuracy...

Ten years ago, in the fall of 2002, my father and I drove from Alexandria, VA, down to Bristol VA/TN (it's right on the border). It was something like nine hours of driving, across the state of Virginia. It proved to be one of the best road trips I've ever taken.

We went to the Carter Family Fold, saw and heard a great concert, and I had Janette Carter autograph a copy of her memoir, "Living with Memories." (Thanks John Maeder, for taking this photo.)

Near the CFF, there was a small (but concentrated) Carter Family museum, housed in the building that was once A.P. Carter's store. We also made it to the church where the Carters' worshipped, and where A.P., Sara, and many other family members are buried. I wanted to make comics about the Carter Family, because I had wondered where this beautiful, heartfelt music had come from, and who had made it. It was very exciting to be in the place where they lived and worked. I took photos.

We also visited the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, whose museum was in the Bristol shopping mall at that time. I'm excited to see that they are working on a Cultural Heritage Center. http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/